The release of the Spiritforged expansion on February 13 marks a major shift for the Riftbound TCG, the trading card game based on League of Legends. As the second major set enters the US market, players are moving from predicting which cards are good to looking at actual win rates from large tournaments. Data from the Chinese Regional Tournaments shows that a small group of "Champion" cards are winning most games, while many other cards rarely appear in top-tier play. This creates a gap between what critics suggest fans should buy and what the math says is actually winning. For players and collectors, the choice is between buying cards that look fun and buying cards that are proven to work in high-stakes matches.
Timeline and Key Figures
The rollout of the Spiritforged set followed a clear path from early predictions to professional competition:
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December 5, 2024: Early reports from Runes & Rift identified Fizz and Fae Dragon as high-potential cards due to their versatile abilities.
January 16, 2026: Initial tier lists showed Draven and Kai'Sa taking an early lead in deck numbers.
February 13, 2026: The set officially released in the US, allowing a wider audience to purchase single cards.
February 2026 (Post-Chinese Regionals): Data from four large tournaments in China, including the Nanjing event, provided a clear picture of which decks actually win.
| Key Actor | Role in Meta | Notable Status |
|---|---|---|
| Draven | Champion Card | S-Tier; 573 picks; 21.99% conversion rate. |
| Irelia | Champion Card | High-Tier; 238 picks; 18.91% conversion rate. |
| Garen | Champion Card | Tier 4; 0 picks in major regional data. |
| IGN | Media Outlet | Recommended "singles" like Trinity Force and Not So Fast. |
Recorded Tournament Data
Official results from recent competitive events show a clear hierarchy of power. The data tracks how many players "picked" a card and how many made it to the "Top 64" or higher.
Dominance of Draven: With 573 picks and 126 players reaching the Top 64, this card is currently the most used in the game. It has secured two tournament wins and two "Top 4" finishes.
High Performance of Kai'Sa: Despite fewer picks (172) than Irelia, Kai'Sa maintains a steady win rate and reached the Top 8 in multiple events.
Low Success Rates: Some cards have many players but few winners. For example, Ornn was picked 64 times but only one player made it to the Top 64.
The "No Show" List: Garen recorded zero picks in the most recent regional data, suggesting players do not find the card useful for winning.
"Draven: 573 Picks / 126 Top 64 / 21.99% Conversion Rate / 2 Wins & Two Top 4" — Riftbound.gg Meta Report
Comparative Card Utility
Proven Winners vs. Media Recommendations
There is a difference between what professional data shows and what general guides suggest.
Evidence: IGN suggests fans pick up Trinity Force and Not So Fast. They describe Trinity Force as a tool for storing extra points and Not So Fast as a way to stop entire spells.
The Proving Ground: While these cards are noted for their "brilliant" design, the tournament data highlights that Draven and Irelia are the cards actually driving players into the finals.
Signal: Professional players focus on Champion conversion rates, while general players may prioritize individual "equipment" or "spell" cards recommended by media.
The Efficiency of Fizz and Fae Dragon
Early predictions labeled Fizz as a very strong card because he can perform many actions (draw, damage, stun) for a low cost.
Predicted Strength: Fizz is a three-Energy card that can disrupt an opponent's hand or ready units.
Actual Results: Recent data shows Fizz is not listed among the top-winning Champions like Draven or Kai'Sa.
Probing Question: If a card like Fizz has many abilities but does not appear in top tournament lists, does this mean the card is too complex to play, or is it simply less powerful than "Might-heavy" cards?
The Tier 4 Gap
The data shows a "Tier 4" category for cards that are not expected to see play.
Data Points: Volibear had nine "Top 128" finishes but struggled to reach the "Top 32" in large events. Rek'Sai had 45 picks but only one person made the Top 64.
Conflict: While Rek'Sai and Volibear are famous characters, their game statistics suggest they are currently much weaker than the rest of the set.
Expert Insight on Gameplay Changes
The transition to Spiritforged changed how players handle damage. In earlier versions of the game, players could only stop one small part of an attack. Experts note that new cards like Not So Fast allow a player to stop a whole spell at once.
According to analysis from Riftbound.gg, the meta is currently "Tier 1" heavy. This means a few specific decks are expected to win almost every time until a major rule change or a new set happens. The data from Nanjing specifically showed that even popular cards like Ezreal can have "worst performances" when players learn how to play against them.
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Summary of Findings
The Spiritforged set has established a clear group of winners and losers within the first month of global play.
Draven is the current standard: Any player wanting to win a tournament must either play Draven or have a plan to beat him.
Conversion Rates matter: A card being "popular" (many picks) does not always mean it is "good" (many wins). Fiora had 117 picks but a low 7.69% conversion rate compared to Sett, who had only 29 picks but a 20.69% conversion rate.
Utility vs. Champions: While equipment cards like Trinity Force are recommended for purchase, the outcome of games is mostly decided by the Champion cards.
Next Steps: Players should watch the results of the next major invitationals to see if Draven’s dominance continues or if cards like Fizz and Ezreal can find new ways to win.
Primary Sources:
IGN Article: Riftbound TCG: 10 Brilliant Spiritforged Cards (Analysis of individual card value and mechanics).
Riftbound.gg Meta Tier List: Best Decks for Spiritforged - Chinese Regionals (Statistical breakdown of champion performance and conversion rates).
Runes & Rift Prediction Report: Top 10 Standout Cards from Spiritforged (Initial expectations for cards like Fizz and Fae Dragon).
Riftbound.gg First Month Report: Best Decks for Spiritforged - First Month (Earlier data showing the rise of Viktor and Kai'Sa).
